A GOP take on talk of tax hikes: Say it ain't so, Governor

Sacramento Bee ^ | April 4, 2004 | Bill Simon

[calcowgirl]

On March 2, voters soundly defeated Proposition 56, a measure designed to make it easier for state government to increase taxes. The voters also gave Governor Schwarzenegger an overwhelming victory in approving Propositions 57 and 58, which he has described as critical to solving California's budget problems without raising taxes.

[kellynla]

"If the current rate of state spending were reduced 13.4 percent on January 1st and frozen through Gov. Schwarzenegger's first budget, the state would be back in the black, free and clear of external debt, and able to start the Governor's second year in 2005 with a clean slate.

A 13.4 percent reduction would mean cutting $5.2 billion from this year’s budget before January 1 and setting next year's budget at $66.6 billion. That’s a big cut – and it means giving up billions of dollars of programmed spending increases next year. But it's still 15.2 percent more than California was spending when Gray Davis took office. And after 18 months of austerity, the Governor would be able to plan his second budget with $12 billion of breathing room in 2005 when revenues are projected to reach $78.6 billion."

Tom McClintock

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[pogo101]

Of course I agree with Simon wholeheartedly. Unlike Shoeless Joe, though, this "say it ain't so" comes at a time when the person being addressed still can make it NOT "so."

Say it with me, California Freepers, whether you held your nose and voted for Arnold (like me) or were staunch McClintock voters:

"If Arnold ... raises ... taxes ... (or just fails to veto a hike) ... then ... I ... will ... support and vote for ... his RECALL."

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Bill Simon was the Republican candidate for governor in 2002

Bill Simon was a loser, too - anybody who loses to Gray-out shouldn't be talking smack from the sidelines.

[calcowgirl]

Is that the Reader's Digest Version? It looks to short to capture all of Tom's good thoughts.

Did you check out this Simon comment?

The budget proposed by the governor in January was and is a sound proposal. It is based on making actual spending cuts in many areas of government. It deserves enactment.

Perhaps he hasn't actually seen the proposal... as there are NO "actual spending cuts" in the proposal. LOL. Ah well, I guess those good ol' St. Monica guys gotta stick together, facts not necessary.

[pogo101]

Bill Simon was a loser, too - anybody who loses to Gray-out shouldn't be talking smack from the sidelines.

What the heck does Simon's having lost to Davis in 2000 have to do with the substance? And this is hardly "smack." It's respectful advice. Perhaps you'd rather hear from all the Democrats in the Legislature who were "winners" in their Assembly and State Senate races in 2000 and 2002, because they're not "losers." They all want to raise taxes.

[Cicero]

Bill Simon came very close to winning. And he did so in spite of the fact that the jerk who was put in to run the party refused to do any fund raising for him in California. He did so in spite of the fact that all the media were against him and labeled him an extremist. He did so in spite of the fact that a corrupt judge kept a false lawsuit against Simon open during the entire election campaign giving people the impression that Simon was a dishonest businessman. And he did so in spite of the fact that the media covered for Davis so the full extent of the deficit was not announced until after the election.

If Gerald Parsky had raised money for Simon's campaign as he swore to do when Karl Rove foisted him on the state party, Simon would have won. But Parsky was still angry because his candidate Riordan was overwhelmed in the primaries. It was yet another case when the Big Tent Republicans kicked away victory rather than support a pro-life conservative with excellent credentials for the job.

[calcowgirl]

I don't know if I have the energy... I'm just prayin' for only 3 years of this! (and frantically collecting signatures for Save187 and whatever nonsense we have to fight next).

LA Times George Skelton Column today:

Governor Finds His Job So 'Fantastic,' He May Not Want to Go

Bad news for Democrats — especially Democrats hoping to run for governor next time: Arnold Schwarzenegger loves his job. Really loves his job.

You'd expect a politician to say that. But Schwarzenegger says it and says it — with emphasis and emotion to the point where there can be no doubt: He thinks being governor is fantastic, to use his favorite word.

It doesn't necessarily follow that he'll still be having fun in 2006 as his term ends — nor, even if he is, that he'll seek reelection.

But it does tell us that he's more likely to run for another term than many Democrats had assumed when he was sworn in last November.

[Amerigomag]

I smell a run for office based on this piece.

Phrases like:

Thanks .. to his (Schwarzenegger's) sound stewardship of state affairs since taking office..

and

The budget proposed by the governor in January was and is a sound proposal....general fund spending under the governor's budget will still grow by 5.4 percent

Sound like a set up to me.

Schwarzenegger has done little next to nothing to curb spending since taking office, has been handing out increased user fees like they were Extasy tabs and has proposed the largest budget in the state's history. Simon knows this.

I suspect Simon is setting up old Arnie to fall flat on his face when he (Arnie) can't deliver on his campaign image and rhetoric.

[NormsRevenge]

Oh joy. lol

[Carry_Okie]

But Parsky was still angry because his candidate Riordan was overwhelmed in the primaries.

Parsky also tried to foist a crooked real estate deal on his partner, Bill Simon Sr. (the candidate's father). The elder Simon backed out of the deal leaving Parsky to explain things to a rather disgruntled client. This was more than just politics, it was a personal vendetta.

Bill Simon never once bitched about the screwing he got from his own party. The guy showed more class than most RINOs deserve.

[Carry_Okie]

I smell a run for office based on this piece.

I've heard it's Simon for State Treasurer with McClintock going for controller again.

Whaddya bet Schwarzenegger might support Westley against McClintock?

[nickcarraway]

California has elected every governor since 1943 to a second term. Bill Simon came within 5 percent of beating Gray Davis- despite basically running as an independent- the state party didn't support him. Top Republicans actually formed a group to support Davis. His Republican opponent, Richard Riordan, had actually been one of Davis' top donors. It's amazing that Simon could do so well with the deck stacked against him. But I guess you feel that we shouldn't support Republicans who aren't perfect.

You're also calling Ronald Reagan a loser, who lost in his first bid for president.

[calcowgirl]

Oh joy. lol

Here's some more joy from the Skelton column:

Schwarzenegger says he now understands what his father-in-law, Sargent Shriver, was talking about all those years while trying to explain "the joy of public service." Shriver was the first director of the Peace Corps and later U.S. ambassador to France.

"My father-in-law said to me, 'Hey, it's the most rewarding thing to be a civil servant,' " the governor recalls. "I didn't quite get it…. Now I totally get it…. I am so excited with this job…. It's really incredible."

[calcowgirl]

Whaddya bet Schwarzenegger might support Westley against McClintock?

I would bet BIG on Schwarzenegger supporting Westley over McClintock. No doubt in my mind.

I still have reservations about Simon... but we'll see what the choices are.

[Amerigomag]

I've heard it's Simon for State Treasurer

Based on Schwarzenneger's performance in office thus far and Simon's comments in the OpEd piece: God save us all.

[calcowgirl]

Did you see this? Spending is going up:

Weintraub - California Insider
April 02, 2004

The pre-May Revise

Every year at the beginning of April, the Department of Finance notifies the Legislature of certain changes the governor intends to make in the budget he proposed in January. Usually, the really big changes – plus those driven by changes in caseload, enrollment and population – are in the May revision of the budget. But some sneak out in the April finance letters. This year, for instance, the governor has detailed how he proposes to spend funds from the Proposition 50 water bond. In all, this year’s finance letters detail a net of about $250,000 in cuts this year and next from the general fund, and about $1.7 billion in increases in spending from special funds, bond funds and federal funds. If you are a real glutton, you can read about every proposed change here.

[Amerigomag]

A recommended read for everyone, not just gluttons.

This document is a smoking gun that points the way to the Schwarzenegger's legacy in California government. A harbinger of things to come. It is more indicative of Schwarzenegger's philosophy than his January submission because he and Ardwin have had more time to fine tune their approach.

If you want to know where the state budget will be in three years, here's a real accurate peek.

[kellynla]

"In all, this year’s finance letters detail a net of about $250,000 in cuts this year and next from the general fund, and about $1.7 billion in increases in spending from special funds, bond funds and federal funds."

Remember my slogan from last year?

"VOTE 4 MCCLINTOCK
or Pay$ the Con$equence$!"

I won't say "I told you so!" LOL